Impact of Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment on Patient-Partner Intimacy

Objective: To determine the effects of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis and treatment on patient- and partner-perceived intimacy and to understand if a diagnosis of HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma influences patient-partner intimacy. Study Design: Prospective observational. Setting: Single tertiary care center. Methods: An investigator-developed questionnaire was used to prospectively survey patients and partners in 2 groups based on human papillomavirus (HPV) status: HPV+ and HPV– at diagnosis (visit 1) and after treatment (visit 2). Surveys were scored on a 60-point scale, and results were categorized as follows: loss of intimacy (0-30), stable relationship (31-41), or improvement in intimacy (42-60). Responses of couples who participated together were assessed for concordance. Responses were considered discordant if patient and partner scores equated to different levels of perceived intimacy. Median patient and partner scores were compared via Mann-Whitney U test, and concordance was assessed with a chi-square test. Results: Thirty-four patients and 28 partners completed surveys at visit 1 and 28 patients and 15 partners at visit 2. Median scores among patients and partners were similar at the first time point (HPV+, 45 vs 45, P =.64; HPV–, 42.6 vs 40.8, P =.29) and the second (HPV+, 44.5 vs 44, P =.87; HPV–, 40.2 vs 39.6, P =.90). Concordance rates between HPV+ and HPV– couples were 63% vs 44% (P =.43) for the first time point and 89% vs 50% (P =.24) for the second. Conclusion: Patients and partners reported stable or improved intimacy at both time points, and most couples tended to agree on their levels of perceived intimacy. A diagnosis of HPV did not appear to significantly affect intimacy scores.